Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is gaining visibility in NYC as more people seek healing options that go deeper than talk therapy alone. At Somatic Psychotherapy Center, our approach is intentionally different from most other ketamine treatment models. We practice relational KAP, which means the medicine is held inside an ongoing therapeutic relationship rather than used as a stand-alone intervention.
Clients often come to us after months or years of trying to think their way through anxiety, depression, or trauma. They are self aware, motivated, and reflective, yet they still feel stuck. They are ready for work that is gentle but deep, structured but intuitive, and grounded in the body rather than purely in the mind.
This blog post will walk you through what ketamine-assisted psychotherapy looks like in our practice, what the process feels like from the inside, and how our approach supports real, embodied change rather than short-term symptom relief. You will also find links to explore our KAP offerings further, including our pages on Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Group Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
A Different Kind of KAP: Our Relational and Somatic Approach
Most people looking into KAP notice that clinics tend to fall into two categories. Some offer quick, high volume sessions with minimal preparation or follow up. Others provide the medicine without much therapeutic support. Our practice was created specifically to offer another option.
We offer slow, relational, body centered KAP that unfolds over time. This is not a one off psychedelic experience. It is a process where change emerges through safety, consistency, and trust in the therapeutic relationship.
Clients who thrive in our model tend to be:
- People who are ready for deep inner work
- Seekers who want insight and emotional transformation
- Individuals who are not in acute crisis and have stability to engage intentionally
- Clients who want to explore their emotional and somatic world with curiosity and openness
We do not offer KAP as an emergency or crisis intervention, and we do not work with clients seeking a quick fix. This is long term, meaningful therapeutic work that includes preparation, dosing, and integration woven together with care.
Safety, Screening, and Our Medical Partnership
Because relational safety is at the heart of our work, medical safety is equally important. Before a client is approved for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, we guide them through a thorough screening and medical intake process.
During screening we review your medical and psychiatric history, discuss your goals, clarify expectations, and ensure that KAP is the right fit. Some conditions or histories make KAP unsafe or inappropriate, including unmanaged mania, psychosis, active suicidal intent, or unstable medical conditions.
All KAP clients meet with a collaborating psychiatric nurse practitioner who provides a one-hour in-person medical evaluation to determine medical appropriateness and dosing.
If it becomes clear that ketamine is not the right modality for you, we will help you find a more appropriate level of care or a different style of therapy within our practice.
The KAP Process at Our NYC Practice
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at Somatic Psychotherapy Center unfolds through a clear, intentional structure. Each stage supports the next, so nothing is rushed and nothing stands alone.
1. Preparation: Building Safety and Orientation
Before any ketamine dosing happens, clients complete at least three preparation sessions with their therapist. These sessions help you build a foundation that makes the medicine work deeper and more meaningfully.
During preparation you will:
- Develop rapport and trust with your therapist
- Explore your intentions for therapy
- Learn how to work with the body during altered states
- Orient to your patterns, defenses, and emotional landscape
- Build somatic skills that support grounding and inner awareness
Many clients find these sessions meaningful on their own. They also ensure you feel steady and supported as you approach your first dosing session.
2. The Dosing Session: A Supported Inner Journey
A KAP dosing session at our practice is spacious, slow, and held with care. You are not left alone. Your therapist remains with you throughout the entire experience, maintaining a grounding presence and a steady sense of relational safety.
Sessions take place in our comfortable and private therapy offices with soft lighting and an optional music playlist. As the ketamine takes effect, you may feel your inner world open in new ways. People commonly describe sensations such as lightness, emotional clarity, loosened self judgment, symbolic imagery, or a deeper connection to parts of themselves they usually cannot access.
Your therapist does not direct your experience; instead they support you in following your own inner process with curiosity and compassion. They may offer grounding cues if you appear overwhelmed or speak gently to help you orient, but the experience belongs to you.
As you return, you will be given time and support to reflect, breathe, and ground before leaving the space.
3. Integration: Making Meaning and Creating Lasting Change
Integration is where ketamine shifts from an experience into healing. After each dosing session, clients complete at least one integration session with their therapist.
Integration helps you:
- Understand and articulate what happened
- Connect insights to your emotional and relational patterns
- Explore how the body responded and what it might be communicating
- Identify changes you want to make in your daily life
- Support your nervous system as it reorganizes
Ketamine can temporarily reduce rigid patterns of thinking. The work done during integration is what helps these shifts become sustained.
What Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Feels Like
Although every KAP session is unique, clients often describe similar experiences.
Many say that the medicine creates emotional clarity, as if they can see their patterns without shame or defensiveness. Others describe a sense of being gently lifted out of habitual thinking so they can access deeper layers of their psyche. Some feel spacious and connected. Others experience vivid imagery or tender emotional release.
Because our approach is somatic and relational, clients often feel grounded even when the experience is intense. The therapist’s presence offers stability, and the somatic skills learned in preparation help clients regulate the body and breath as the process unfolds.
What Makes Relational KAP Different
Relational KAP is not about the medicine alone. It is about what the medicine makes possible when held in a strong therapeutic relationship.
Clients often tell us that the most healing part of the process is feeling deeply met, seen, and supported during a moment when their inner world is more accessible and vulnerable.
Our therapists draw on somatic psychology, trauma-informed modalities, and depth-oriented therapy to help clients make meaning of what emerges. This slow, thoughtful, relational pace allows change to feel integrated rather than overwhelming.
FAQs about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Is KAP safe?
Yes. We follow a strict medical and psychiatric screening process in collaboration with a licensed psychiatric provider. Your therapist is present throughout dosing sessions and your safety is monitored carefully.
How long does the process take?
KAP at our practice is not a quick intervention. Clients typically complete several preparation sessions, one or more dosing sessions, and multiple integration sessions over time. You can read more on our Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy page.
Does KAP help depression, anxiety, or trauma?
Many clients experience meaningful shifts in depression or trauma-related symptoms, especially when they have felt stuck in traditional talk therapy. Ketamine can help soften rigid patterns and therapy helps reorganize them.
Is KAP right for me?
If you feel drawn to inner exploration, are interested in a slow relational process, and want a therapy model that integrates body, mind, and emotional experience, you may be a good fit. A consultation call can help you determine this.
Work With Us
If you are curious about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and want a relational, embodied, and trustworthy approach, we would be glad to connect with you. When KAP is held with care and grounded in safety, it can create meaningful openings for healing.
If you would like to learn more or begin the process, you can connect with us anytime through our contact page
